A man serving a federal prison sentence for a string of pipe bombings in Whitmore Lake and Howell faces new explosives charges.

Christopher Bandy, 33, was arraigned today and is charged with two counts of manufacturing or possessing an explosive device with malicious intent, two counts of placing explosives near a piece of property and two counts of possessing bombs with unlawful intent — all of which are felonies.

The alleged offenses occurred April 25, 2008 and from June 8-9, 2008.

Christopher Bandy

Bandy — who detonated seven pipe bombs at five homes in Whitmore Lake and Howell and admitted setting fire to a Milan home during a nine-month crime spree — was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison. He had pleaded guilty to manufacturing an unregistered firearm (pipe bomb) and possessing an unregistered firearm (pipe bomb). No one was injured during Bandy's crimes.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts ordered the sentence be followed by three years of supervised release. She also said Bandy must pay more than $43,000 in restitution to the Donovans' insurance company to pay for damage to their home.

Prior to being sentenced, Bandy said, “I just want to apologize to everyone, your honor, for all the trouble I’ve caused and the pain I’ve caused.”

Under a plea agreement Bandy reached with federal prosecutors, three counts of possessing an unregistered pipe bomb were dismissed.

Washtenaw County prosecutors already dropped charges against Bandy for setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s Milan home on April 24, 2009 to collect insurance money. The charges were dismissed in exchange for Bandy's cooperation, including testimony against his 21-year-old ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Mapes. Mapes was sentenced on Oct. 14 by Washtenaw County Circuit Judge David Swartz to five years of probation after pleading no contest to arson of an insured property.

Bandy has been detained since his July 7, 2009 arrest by ATF agents, who still don't know why he went on a pipe bombing spree. He apparently selected his victims at random.

According to a sentencing memorandum filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Gabel,
Bandy told investigators “the pipe bombings were part of an elaborate conspiracy to divert law enforcement’s attention so that he and his cohorts could rob banks.” But Bandy failed a polygraph and admitted he was lying, documents say.

State prison records show Bandy was previously convicted of second-degree home invasion and breaking and entering, among other crimes.

AnnArbor.com's Lee Higgins contributed to this report.

Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.